davis



Feb. 7, 1956 H. B. DAVIS 2,733,451

DOUBLE BUNK BED Filed July 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

l /owara Dav/'5 BY. r 16 MG, MQIMJLQ ATTORNEY 7, 1956 H. B. DAVIS 2,733,451

DOUBLE BUNK BED 5 41 J6 I I .416 1g 6 92 66 g 44 5g 66 INVENTOR. 62 66 6 4 64 Howard 252 Dav/3 o BY 66 L5 6'6 6 7 [2?16 ATTORNEY United States Patent (3 DGUhLE Bus-n and Howard B. liiavis, harbor, Application July 28, 19 56, S ei'iail bib. 126,291 2 Claims. '(cl. s '-s This invention relates to double bunk bed.

The invention has ioran objecttq provide a novel and improved k b sti was h v g a uppe and a lower bunk and inwhich proyision is made for lowering the upper bunk relativeto thelower bunk whereby to render the upper bunk more readily accessible for inakp d:

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the double bunk bed and in the various structures, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the e'rid of this specification.

One of the disadvantages in the use of a double bftink bed of the conventional type haviri'g: one bunk at ed above the other in a fixed spaced rblatibji compr se the hazard involved in standing on a ladder when niakiiig up the bed in the upper bunk. The present invention contemplates a novel double bunk structure adapted to permit the upper bunk to be lowered to a convenient level above the lower bunk whereby the attendant may stand on the floor while changing the bed clothes and making up the bed. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention novel connections are provided between the upper and lower bunks including operating mechanism whereby to enable the attendant to efiect lowering and raising of the upper bunk relative to the lower bunk in a novel, simple, and convenient manner.

in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an end view of the present double bunk bed showing the upper bunk in its elevated position and with a cover panel removed to show the operating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the upper bunk in its lowered position; Figs. 3 and 4 are side and end elevations respectively of the present double bunk bed with the upper bunk in its lowered position; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the operating mechanism; and Figs. 6, and 8 are side elevation, plan, and end views respectively of a latch mechanism for preventing inadvertent lowering of the upper bunk.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 and 12 represent the upper and lower bunks respectively of the present double bunk bed, herein shown as being operatively connected together by a hinged structure, indicated generally at 14, arranged to support the upper bunk 10 in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1 and adapted to permit lowering of the upper bunk to a position immediately above the lower bunk, as shown in Fig. 2.

The bunks 10, 12 may be of rectangular box-like construction, the lower bunk 12 having legs or corner posts 16 resting on the floor, and the upper bunk having similar legs or corner posts 18 detachably supported in sockets 26 secured to the upper ends of the hinged structure. As herein illustrated, the hinged structure 14 may comprise upper and lower legs 22, 24 connected together at their adjacent ends by hinges 26, the lower legs 24 being con nected to the lower bunk corner posts 16 by hinges 28, and the upper legs 22 being connected to the upper bunk 1 2,733,451 7 Patented Feb. 1,195

corner posts 18 by hinges 30, the hinges being arranged in a manner such as to permit extension of the hinged legs into vertical alignment with the corner posts '16, 18 when the upper bunk is in its elevated position; and to permit rocking of the legs 22, 24 inwardly into a horizontal position when the upper bunk is caused to descend to its lowered ests-en, As herein shown, the bunk beds 16, 12 may be providedwithend boards 32, 34 respectively arranged to extend a substantial distance above the sides 36, 38 of the bunks, and in practice, the upper bunk 10 is preferably arranged to come to rest on top of the end boards 34 of the lower bunk andto be supported thereby when the unit is in itslowered position, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Provision is made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention for raising arid lowering the upper buiik 10 by operating linkage; indicated generally at 40', mounted on the lower bunk 1 2 and operatively connectedto the hinged structure 14, and ashereih shown, the operating linkage 40 may include an operating handle 42 connected to or formed integrally with a horizohtally extended central shaft 44 jouriialed in suitable bearing brackets 46 attached to the underside of the lower bunk 12. The horizontally extended shaft 44 may be operatively connected to similar linkage '40 arbour ehds of the bunk 12 Se that a description at the linkage in one and may suffice for sour. As erein illustrated, the ign 44 may be connected by toggle linkage as a ve se ly reciprocal slide bracket 48' mounted to'slid'e en a c e ntral stationary rod 50, one arm 52 of the toggle linkage being fast on the shaft 44 and the other arm 54 being pivotally connected to the slide bracket. The vertical rod 50 may be supported at its lower end in an extended portion 56 of the bearing bracket 46 and may be supported at its other end in an angle bracket 58 attached to the upper end of the board 34 of the lower bunk, as best shown in Fig. 5. The slide bracket 48 may be further connected by links 60, 62 to right angle brackets 64, 66 respectively, secured to and extended at right angles from the lower leg members 24 of the hinged structure by screws 68.

From the description thus far it will be observed that when the upper bunk 10 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. l, the toggle links 52, 54 are in substantially vertical alignment on dead center, and that in operation, when the operating handle 42 is manually rocked to the left viewing Fig. 1, the slide bracket 48 will be caused to descend, and the links 60, 62 connected to the slide bracket will cause the right angle brackets 64, 66 together with the opposed lower hinged legs 24 attached thereto to be rocked or pivoted on the hinges 28, the hinged structure also pivoting on the connecting hinges 26, 30 to effect retraction of the hinged structure and lowering of the upper bunk 10 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the links 60, 62 connecting the brackets 64, 66 to the slide bracket 48 are in substantially horizontal alignment on or slightly beyond dead center. Conversely, when the operating handle 42 is rocked in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2, the operation will be reversed to effect elevation of the upper bunk through the linkage 46 described. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of the right angle brackets 64, 66 may and preferably will be connected together by two springs 70 having an intermediate link 72 to form in eifect one elongated spring which is arranged to urge the linkage in a direction such as to retain the toggle arms 52, 54 in their dead center or vertically aligned position when the unit is in its elevated position as shown in Fig. 1, and likewise to urge the linkage in the opposite direction to maintain the links 60, 62 in their horizontally aligned position when the unit is in its lowered position as shown in Fig. 2, the spring also assisting in the initial elevating movement of the linkage when the operating handle is rocked beyond dead center in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2.

Several expedients are herein illustrated for detachably retaining the operating linkage 40 and the hinged structure 14 in its elevated position whereby to prevent inadvertent collapse of the structure, and as herein shown, one of such expedients may comprise a spring-pressed stud or bolt 74 carried by the operating handle 42 and arranged to cooperate with an opening 75 formed in a plate member 76 secured to a cover member 7 3 attached to the end of the lower bunk, as shown in Fig. 5 whereby to maintain the operating handle in its elevating position. The spring-pressed stud 74 may be manually withdrawn from the opening 75 to permit rocking of the bandle to its lowering position, and a second opening 77 may be provided in the plate 76 to lock the operating arm in its lowering position.

From the above description it will be observed that the present double bunk bed structure enables an attendant to quickly and easily lower the upper bunk relative to the lower bunk to present the upper bunk at a convenient level to permit the bed to be made up while standing on the floor. If desired, after the upper bunk has been lowered the structure may be used as a single bunk. It will also be observed that the upper bunk may be detachably removed from the structure and set on the floor to provide two bunks side by side if desired.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 18:

1. In a double bunk bed having an upper and a lower bunk, a double-hinged structure operatively supporting the upper and lower bunks in vertically spaced relation. and operating linkage carried at each end of the lower bunk including an operating handle carried by said lower bunk and toggle links connected to said double-hinged structure for effecting lowering and raising of the upper bunk relative to the lower bunk, and means for detachably retaining said operating handle in its bunk-elevated position and its bunk-lowered position, said last-named means including a spring-pressed pin carried by said operating handle, and openings in the lower bunk arranged to receive said pin in either position of operation.

2. In a double bunk bed having an upper and a lower bunk, a double-hinged structure at the ends of said bunks operatively supporting the upper and lower bunks in vertically spaced relation, and operating linkage carried at each end of the lower bunk including an operating handle carried by said lower bunk and connected to said double-hinged structure for effecting lowering and raising of the upper bunk relative to the lower bunk, and an elongated spring connecting opposed sides of said double-hinged structure and arranged to assist said operating linkage in its bunk-raising or lowering operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 243,932 Martel July 5, 1881 1,710,823 Hackney Apr. 30, 1929 1,890,361 Beattie Dec. 6, 1932 2,099,621 Prescott Nov. 16, 1937 2,280,444 Neunherz Apr. 21, 1942 2,523,076 Sweetland Sept. 19, 1950 

